© Thomas Hawthorne, Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic
(Houston, TX) – In a move reminiscent of the mid-1990s in Phoenix, Aroizona, a Texas jail is moving to use pink jumpsuits. The TV show says orange is the new black — but pink is making some progress, it seems. Jailers in Galveston, Texas are now using pink uniforms when handing out inmates’ clothes.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio made headlines decades ago when he forced prisoners to wear pink jumpsuits and live in outdoor tents — while serving in Maricopa County, Arizona. At the time he described the effort as a way to humble prisoners and make the entire prison experience especially undesirable.
In Texas, jail officials describe pink as a soothing color. They also note the uniforms make inmates easier to spot.
